If you are new to MexConnect, we hope you enjoy the site and discover its incredible richness of information.
If you are a previous reader of the site, we hope you will take the time to discover how truly powerful the new design is as a means of discovering all your old favorites, as well as the new articles that will be continuously appearing. Any time there is change it can be confusing at first. All your old bookmarks should still work! We believe that you will grow to appreciate the new MexConnect even more than the old one!
Why have we redesigned MexConnect?
The answer is simple—the old design (from 2009) was no longer manageable.
When MexConnect first went on-line in 1996, we used then state-of-the-art methods to produce the site — hand coding and manually integrating all the materials. We were a VW Beetle racing on a track outpacing other VW Beetles. Over the ensuing thirteen years, we were still driving our VW while others were driving ever more complex and faster vehicles. Finally, our long-time and beloved VW began to fall behind. So, in 2009, we designed and built a new vehicle from the ground up. Eleven years later, in 2020, we had again outgrown our content management system which was unable to adequately serve the needs of those reading MexConnect on smartphones and tablets.
In developing the new 2020 version we have tried to retain the best of what we already had, and then improve beyond that. We think we have succeeded.
The site is not yet perfect; we are still working on some details.
So what has changed?
- MexConnect is now using an improved and more flexible dynamic database system, making it easier for us to produce, maintain and change the materials.
- Our completely re-designed (and visual) front/home page is much more user-friendly.
- New articles will be added on a continuous basis.
- There are 5 major Categories or Themes: Living, Working, Retiring; Travel & Destinations; Culture & Arts; History & People; Food & Cuisine.
- Each Theme has its own home page with relevant articles and Columns.
- Our search engine helps you find relevant articles based on search terms and keywords.
- All articles have tags; these tags, which cover major areas of interest to our readers, help you find other articles similar to the one you are currently reading.
- For our Cuisine Theme, tags include specific ingredients, type of dish, and even Regional cuisines! In addition, many of these articles and recipes are available in Spanish.
- MexConnect has more than 6000 photographs and maps. All our Photo Galleries are now placed inside specific articles, enhancing visual appeal and ease of use.
- We have said goodbye to our Forums; usage of all Forums, including ours, had declined significantly with the rise of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We are boosting our presence on all those social media to stimulate informed discussion about Mexico.
- You are now able to submit comments (to almost all articles) to provide updated information or expand on the information provided. To ensure we maintain the highest possible editorial standards, all comments are subject to moderation prior to publication.
And, what hasn’t changed?
- The quality of materials will stay the same. We will continue to edit and moderate all materials presented. We take pride in the fact that MexConnect is one of the few sites that really pays attention to the quality of information and presentation.
- Our dedication to providing quality, informative, useful and relevant information on all aspects of Mexico.
As our old-timers will know, our beloved founder and long-time CEO, David McLaughlin, passed away last year. He had always envisioned this major updating of MexConnect and this new iteration of MexConnect, designed by Trevor Burton, is launched in his honor.
You can email suggestions and comments to this email.
If you find bugs or technical issues please email them to this email.
Sincerely,
Tony Burton
Publisher and Webjefe 2.0
Felicidades!!!
Thanks, Wilma – good to see you are still reading MexConnect – lots of goodies to come in the next few months. Best, Tony.
I have been following MexConnect for the past 20 years, I loved the old version, but times must change.
I find this new version very interesting and helpfull, keep up the good work.
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Billie, Thanks for the kind words and for being a loyal follower of MexConnect. The new site is still very much a work in progress. Once we have completed the transfer of former content, we will be starting a systematic update of the material on the site. Best, Tony.
Hi Tony…great re-design!
One quibble: I think it’s unfortunate–with all of the photos of fruits/vegetables available–that your staff chose (in Food & Cuisine “About Mexican Food” to use a header photo with obviously imported-from-the-USA apples (note the stickers) in the fruit storage container. If you need a photo with no imported fruit, let me know–I have a zillion.
Hi Cristina. Thanks for the kind words about the re-design. Quibble taken into account and photo replaced! Thanks for the offer of photos ~ I’m e-mailing you separately. Keep well, stay safe, Tony
I like it…the new design. I have been enjoying this site for about 20 yrs. Lots of changes over the yrs.
Thanks, Curtis, for your kind words. We hope you will continue to enjoy the site for the next 20 years! Tony.